Semua Bab His Bride By Force: Bab 41 - Bab 50

ALEXA If guilt had a scent, it would be coffee, mangoes, and the distinct aroma of post-sex regret.Not that I regretted it, technically. Not the part where Killian moaned my name like a man who was possessed. And especially not the part where he blacked out mid-orgasm.What I did regret? The timing.Because Rafael, his younger brother, who happened to be a literal doctor, had made it clear that Killian was in no shape for stress and exertion. And that meant he wasn't supposed to have sex either.But guess what? I put him through all three at once. With enthusiasm.So now I was creeping into Killian's absurdly expensive, ridiculously oversized bedroom, carrying a breakfast tray as though it would somehow atone for my sins.On it were coffee, slices of mangoes, painkillers, and croissants I didn't even butter properly because my hands were shaking. Not from fear. From... whatever the hell last night was.Killian lay sprawled in bed, shirtless, bruised, and looking like sin. His hai

ALEXA I blinked awake to the gentle weight of a hand wrapped gently around mine, and there he was.Killian.He sat by the bed, elbows on his knees, his fingers laced with mine in a way that suggested that he hadn't let go for hours. There was a deep furrow between his brows as if he hadn't breathed properly since I passed out.Why did he look so…"You're awake." His voice was rough with barely restrained emotion."I'm fine," I said quickly, sitting up too fast. "Just a headache. I probably didn't eat enough or something—""You're going to the hospital," he said without room for argument.I rolled my eyes. "Killian, don't be dramatic. I just fainted, not dropped dead—""Be honest with me."His voice was softer now, the weight of his gaze pressing down on me. I couldn't help but falter. Because when Killian Cross looks at you with those enchanting blue eyes with a gaze so soft it almost hurts, not even your strongest mental armour stands a chance.He wasn't asking the question

SOFIA If I had a voodoo doll of the sexy, green-eyed hot stuff in front of me, its smug little mouth would've been stitched shut. He'd been trying to get me to talk to him for the past few minutes, but I refused to give him what he wanted. And he knew exactly why.It was supposed to be a fun night. Truth or dare, mafia edition. Alcohol. Secrets. Flirting.Until he opened his mouth and made it clear that he regretted our affair.I'd laughed, of course. I prided myself on being gracious even in defeat. Then I ghosted him.And he hated that more than anything.So, of course, tonight he cornered me. At the back of the damn ballroom. Right after I snuck out to breathe."You've been ignoring me," he said.I didn't even flinch. "I've been prioritizing my peace. You should try it sometime."His jaw clenched. "We need to talk.""Do we?" I leaned against the railing, my head tilted. "Because last time I checked, I'm just a regrettable, reckless lay."He was silent for a moment.Then he step

ALEXA I woke with a dull ache behind my eyes, the memory of last night's events replaying in my head. The most unsettling one was waking up to find myself standing in front of the vault with Killian. I had sleepwalked for the first time in a long time, only to end up there. Even my subconscious mind seemed to be under pressure. Killian hadn't said much. He'd quietly led me out of the vault I hadn't known existed. A part of me was worried that last night's sleepwalking would create a rift between us. I sat up slowly in bed, rubbing my temples. My nightgown was still wrinkled. My feet were bare. But the faint scent of espresso and something warm and buttery was drifting in from the hallway. My burner phone vibrated on the nightstand, and I hesitantly reached for it. The last thing I wanted right at this moment was to start my day with the weight of a freaking blackmail. There was a message from the same person who'd claimed to be my bodyguard. It read: "We need to talk. Come al

KILLIAN I heard the glass shatter the instant I stepped into my study. It hit the marble with a loud, echoing crack. But it was the silence that followed that instantly set me on edge. I turned back towards the hallway just as she appeared. Colour had drained from her face, and she was both barefoot and trembling. Her phone slipped from her fingers next, clattering to the floor. "Alexa," I said carefully. But she didn't answer. Her wide eyes found mine. They were wet and frantic. And she had a strange look on her face. The kind of look you give a person when the world is burning and they're the only thing left standing. She moved towards me in an almost dazed manner. As if she didn't even register her surroundings and nothing else existed except me. And then, she dropped. To her knees. I froze. "Killian," she choked out, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Her usual sarcastic and venom-coated defiance was gone without a trace. Tears streamed down her cheeks in floods. "I shouldn'